AU2007252271B2

AU2007252271B2 - A tap

Info

Publication number: AU2007252271B2
Application number: AU2007252271A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Sam Robertson England
Original assignee: Caroma Industries Ltd
Current assignee: Caroma Industries Ltd
Priority date: 2006-05-18
Filing date: 2007-03-02
Publication date: 2012-08-16
Anticipated expiration: 2027-03-02
Also published as: AU2007252271A1; NZ571378A; CN101421549A; WO2007134360A1

Abstract

A tap (10) comprising: a handle; a spindle (12); a body (18); a substantially cup-shaped elastomeric seal (26); and first (28a) and second (28b) substantially complimentarily shaped ceramic valve members. The spindle (12) is adapted for angular movement about its longitudinal axis in response to like movement of the handle. The body (18) has a fluid inlet (20), a fluid outlet (22) and an opening (24) for at least partially receiving the spindle therein. The seal (26) has a base (26a) and a sidewall (28b). The seal base (26a) has a fluid inlet opening (38) in fluid communication with the body fluid inlet (20) and is adapted for sealing relative to the body (18) adjacent the body fluid inlet (20). The seal sidewall (26b) has a fluid outlet opening (42) in fluid communication with the body fluid outlet (22) and is adapted for sealing relative to the body adjacent the body (18) fluid outlet (22). The first valve member (28a) is adjacent to the end of the spindle (12) opposite the handle and is adapted for angular movement in response to like movement of the handle and has at least one opening 36a therein. The second valve member (28b) is positioned between the first valve member (28a) and the seal base (26b), is restrained against angular movement relative to the seal base (26b) and has at least one opening (36) in fluid communication the fluid inlet opening (38) in the seal base (26b). Movement of the handle causes the first valve member (28a) to move between an opened position, where the first (28a) and second (28b) valve members are aligned to permit fluid passage from the body fluid inlet (20) to the body fluid outlet (22) via the second valve member opening(s) (36) and the interior of the seal (26), and a closed position, where the first valve member (28a) occludes the opening(s) in the second valve member (28b) to prevent said fluid passage.

Description

WO 2007/134360 PCT/AU2007/000261 A TAP Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a tap, more particularly a quarter turn tap which, as the 5 name suggests, allows fluid flow therethrough to be controlled between no flow and maximum flow in response to an approximately 90 degree angular movement of the tap handle. The invention has been developed for use in relation to a quarter turn tap that can be 10 manufactured, relatively inexpensively, from plastics materials and will be described hereinafter with reference to that application. However, the invention is not limited to this particular use. Background of the Invention 15 Quarter turn taps are well known for controlling fluid, particularly water, supply in many applications. However, known quarter turn taps are complicated and thus expensive to produce, particularly as they require multiple seals to: seal against water leaking past the quarter turn valve members; seal against fluid leaking from the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet; and seal against fluid leaking between the tap body and the tap spindle. 20 Object of the Invention It is the object of the present invention to substantially overcome or at least ameliorate the above disadvantage. 25 Summary of the Invention Accordingly, the present invention provides a tap comprising: a handle; a spindle adapted for angular movement about its longitudinal axis in response to like movement of the handle; 30 a body with a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet and an opening for at least partially receiving the spindle therein; a substantially cup-shaped elastomeric seal having a base and a sidewall, the seal base having a fluid inlet opening in fluid communication with the body fluid inlet and adapted for sealing relative to the body adjacent the body fluid inlet, the sidewall having a WO 2007/134360 PCT/AU2007/000261 -2 fluid outlet opening in fluid communication with the body fluid outlet and being adapted for sealing relative to the body adjacent the body fluid outlet; and first and second substantially complimentarily shaped ceramic valve members, the first valve member being adjacent to the end of the spindle opposite the handle and 5 adapted for angular movement in response to like movement of the handle and having at least one -opening therein, the second valve member being positioned between the first valve member and the seal base and restrained against angular movement relative to the seal base and having at least one opening in fluid communication with the fluid inlet opening in the seal base, 10 wherein movement of the handle causes the first valve member to move between an opened position, where the openings in the first and second valve members are aligned to permit fluid passage from the body fluid inlet to the body fluid outlet via the openings in the first and second valve members and the interior of the seal, and a closed position, where the first valve member occludes the opening(s) in the second valve member to 15 prevent said fluid passage. The seal preferably has a pair of said fluid inlet openings and the first and second valve members preferably each have a respective complimentary pair of inlet openings. The seal base preferably has a recess complimentary to the second valve member to receive 20 and restrain same against angular movement relative to the body. The spindle preferably has an external flange adapted for engagement with a retaining member positioned around the spindle within the spindle opening. The spindle opening preferably has a first internal thread for engaging an external thread on the retaining 25 member. The retaining member is preferably secured relative the body by a locknut. The body preferably has a second internal thread for engaging an external thread on the locknut. The locknut preferable has a tool formation adapted for engagement with the retaining member. The locknut preferably has an external thread for engagement with a decorative flange. 30 The body preferably has an external thread for receiving upper and lower nuts adapted for securing against the opposed sides of a mounting surface. The spindle preferably has a plastic, most preferably acetal, body and a metal, most 35 preferably brass, shaft. The shaft is preferably adapted for connection to the handle. The WO 2007/134360 PCT/AU2007/000261 -3 spindle body preferably has a plurality of fingers depending therefrom, which are adapted for engagement with the first valve member so as to cause corresponding movement in the spindle body and the first valve member. s The body inlet is preferably in the form of a spigot, most preferably an externally threaded spigot. The body outlet is preferably in the form of a spigot, most preferably an externally threaded spigot. The seal is preferably a formed elastomeric material, most preferably silicon. 10 The distal end of the side wall of the seal preferably has an internal flange adapted for location within a corresponding recess provided on the spindle body. In one form, the first and second valve members have a substantially bow-tie shape. In 15 another form, the first valve member has a substantially bow-tie shape and the second valve member has a substantially circular shape with two substantially quadrant shaped openings therein. Brief Description of the Drawings 20 Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of examples only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a tap; Figure 2 is an exploded view of the tap shown in Fig. 1; 25 Figure 3 is a cross-sectional side view of the tap shown in Fig. 1; Figures 4 - 10 are bottom, perspective, right hand side, front, left hand side, rear and top views of a seal used in the tap shown in Fig. 1; Figure 11 is a top view of the ceramic valve members used in the tap shown in Figure 1; Figure 12 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a tap; 30 Figure 13 is an exploded view of the tap shown in Fig. 12; Figure 14 is a cross sectional side view of the tap shown in Fig. 12; Figures 15 to 19 are bottom perspective front, rear and top views of the seal used in the tap shown in Fig. 12; Figures 20 and 21 are top and bottom views of a first valve member used in the tap shown 35 in Fig. 12; and WO 2007/134360 PCT/AU2007/000261 -4 Figures 22 and 23 are top and bottom views of a second valve member used in the tap shown in Fig. 12. Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments 5 Referring to Figs 1 to 11, particularly Figs. 2 and 3, there is shown a first embodiment of quarter turn tap 10. The tap 10 has a spindle 12 formed from an acetal spindle body 14 and a brass spindle shaft 16. The spindle body 14 has a first external flange 14a, a peripheral recess 14b, and a second external flange 14c. A handle (not shown) is attached to the top of the shaft 16 so that angular movement (i.e. turning) of the handle causes 10 corresponding angular movement in the shaft 16. The tap 10 also has a body 18 with a fluid inlet, in the form of externally threaded spigot 20, and a fluid outlet, in the form of an externally threaded spigot 22, and an opening 24 for at least partially receiving the spindle body 14 therein. 15 The tap 10 also has a substantially cup-shaped silicon seal 26 with a base 26a and a sidewall 26b. A pair of first and second ceramic valve members 28a and 28b are positioned in the tap 20 10 between the end of the spindle 12 that is remote the shaft handle end and the base 26a of the seal 26. The end of the spindle body 14 adjacent the valve members 28a and 28b has four fingers 14c depending therefrom for engaging the valve member 28a such that angular movement 25 of the spindle 12 causes corresponding angular movement of the valve member 28a. The tap 10 also has a retaining member 30 which has an external thread 30a for engaging with a lower internal thread 24a provided in the end of the spindle opening 24 that is adjacent the seal 26. A rotational stop 32 is provided adjacent the retaining member 30. 30 The rotational stop 32 has a lower external thread 32a and an upper external thread 32b. The lower external thread 32a engages a lower internal thread 24b in the opening 24. The upper end 32c of the rotational stop 32 has a tool formation which allows it to engage with the upper-end 30b of the retaining member 30. As best shown in Fig. 1, the tap 10 also has a pair of nuts 34a and 34b.

WO 2007/134360 PCT/AU2007/000261 As best shown in Fig. 2, the valve members 28a and 28b each have a substantially complementary 'bow tie' shape, formed by a pair of 90 degree quadrant shaped regions. As best shown in Fig. 11, the first valve member 28a has a pair of openings therein, in the form of gaps 36a between the quadrants. The second valve member 28b also has a pair of 5 openings 36b in its quadrant shaped regions. . As best shown in Figs. 4 to 10, the base 26a of the seal 26 has a pair of openings 38, that correspond to the openings 36 in the valve member 28a, and an inwardly facing recess 40 for receiving and locating the valve member 28b therein. The seal 26 also includes an 10 outlet opening 42 in its sidewall 26b and a tongue 44 adapted to locate in a corresponding groove in the tap body 18 in order to prevent the seal 26 from rotating relative to the body 18. The seal 26 also has an inwardly facing flange 46 which is received in a corresponding external recess provided in the body 18. 15 The assembly of the tap 10 will now be described. Firstly, the valve members 28a and 28b are positioned within the seal 26, with the valve member 28b seated in the recess 40. The spindle 12 is then inserted into the seal 26 with the flange 46 in engagement with the recess 14b. The resulting spindle/seal assembly advantageously ensures that the (small) valve members 26a and 26b are not lost during subsequent handling. The spindle/seal 20 assembly is then inserted into the opening 24 in the body 18 with the tongue 44 engaged with its corresponding groove. The retaining member 30 is then screwed into the opening 24 and tightened against the flange 14a in order to secure the spindle/seal assembly in the body 18. The (inverted) rotational stop 32 is then engaged with the retaining member 30 and used a tool to tighten the retaining member 30 relative to the body 18. The tightening 25 action also forces the valve members 28a and 28b against the base 26a of the seal 26 and creates a preload on the valve members 28a and 28b. This preload resists inlet water pressure on the valve members 28a and 28b when the valve 10 is in the closed position and therefore improves the sealing of the tap 10. The tightening action also results in the flange 14c compressing the seal 26 outwardly against adjacent inner surface of the tap 30 body 18 to improve the sealing therebetween. The rotational stop 32 is then returned to the orientation shown in the drawings and screwed into the body 18.

WO 2007/134360 PCT/AU2007/000261 -6 The nuts 34a and 34b are then screwed onto the exterior of the tap body 18 either side of a mounting surface, for example a counter top or a sink, as is well known in the art. A decorative flange (not shown) can also, if desired, be screwed onto the upper external thread 32a of the locknut 32 before fitting of the tap handle (also not shown). 5 Inlet and outlet water supplies are then connected to the spigots 20 and 22 respectively, as is also well known in the art. The operation of the tap 10 will now be described. The movement of the spindle 12 is 10 restrained to about a 90 degree angular movement by lugs inside rotation stop 30 and ribs on spindle 12. The lower valve member 28b is restrained against angular movement relative to the tap body 18 by its engagement with the recess 40 in the seal 26. Angular movement of the handle causes corresponding angular movement of the spindle 12 which in turn causes corresponding angular movement of the valve member 28a. 15 At one "closed" end position, the valve member 28a is positioned to coincide with (i.e. is aligned with) that of the valve member 28b. In this closed position, the first valve member 28a occludes the openings 36b in the second valve member 28b. As a result, inlet water pressure supplied to the inlets 38 in the seal 26, and so to the openings 36 in 20 the valve member 28b, is prevented from going any further. At the other "open" end position, being a turn from the closed end position, the first valve member 28a is positioned so as to not occlude the openings 36 in the valve member 28b. Put another way, the openings 36a in the fist valve member 28a are aligned with the 25 openings 36b in the second valve member. This permits water to flow from the inlet spigot 20, past the openings 36a between the quadrant shaped regions in the valve member 28a, and into the interior of the seal 26 before progressing through the outlet opening 42 to the outlet spigot 22. 30 The unitary seal 26, and the deformation of the unitary seal 26 described above, improves the sealing of the tap 10 compared to existing quarter turn taps. A second embodiment of quarter turn tap 10' is shown in Figs. 12 to 23. The construction, assembly and operation of the tap 10' is similar to the tap 10 previously 35 described with reference to Figs. 1 to 11 and like reference numerals will be used to WO 2007/134360 PCT/AU2007/000261 -7 indicate like features. However, in the tap 10', the end of the spindle body 14 adjacent to the valve members 28a and 28b is formed from a separate press on moulded plastic part 14e. The part 14e includes the four fingers 14c depending therefrom that engage the valve member 28a. The plastic component 14e reduces the cost of the spindle 12 and also 5 reduces wear on the silicon seal 26. Also, the valve member 28b in the tap 10' has an overall circular shape with a pair of quadrant shaped openings 36b therein. Although the invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, it will be appreciated by those persons skilled in the art that the invention may be embodied 10 in many other forms.

Claims

1. A tap comprising: a handle; 5 a spindle adapted for angular movement about its longitudinal axis in response to like movement of the handle; a body with a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet and an opening for at least partially receiving the spindle therein; a substantially cup-shaped elastomeric seal having a base and a sidewall, the seal 1o base having a fluid inlet opening in fluid communication with the body fluid inlet and adapted for sealing relative to the body adjacent the body fluid inlet, the sidewall having a fluid outlet opening in fluid communication with the body fluid outlet and being adapted for sealing relative to the body adjacent the body fluid outlet; and first and second substantially complimentarily shaped ceramic valve members, is the first valve member being adjacent to the end of the spindle opposite the handle and adapted for angular movement in response to like movement of the handle and having at least one opening therein, the second valve member being positioned between the first valve member and the seal base and restrained against angular movement relative to the seal base and having at least one opening in fluid communication the fluid inlet opening 20 in the seal base, wherein movement of the handle causes the first valve member to move between an opened position, where the openings in the first and second valve members are aligned to permit fluid passage from the body fluid inlet to the body fluid outlet via the openings in the first and second valve members and a closed position, where the first value member 25 occludes the opening(s) in the second valve member to prevent said fluid passage.

2. The tap as claimed in claim 1, wherein the seal has a pair of said fluid inlet openings and the first and second valve members each have a respective complimentary pair of inlet openings. 30

3. The tap as claimed in claim 1 or, wherein the seal base has a recess complimentary to the second valve member to receive and restrain same against angular movement relative to the body. WO 2007/134360 PCT/AU2007/000261 -9

4. The tap as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the spindle has an external flange adapted for engagement with a retaining member positioned around the spindle within the body opening.

5 5. The tap as claimed in claim 4, wherein the spindle opening has a first internal thread for engaging an external thread on the retaining member.

6. The tap as claimed in claim 4 or 5, wherein the retaining member is secured relative the body by a locknut. 10

7. The tap as claimed in claim 6, wherein the body has a second internal thread for engaging an external thread on the locknut.

8. The tap as claimed in claim 6 or 7, wherein the locknut has a tool formation is adapted for engagement with the retaining member.

9. The tap as claimed in claim 6, 7 or 8, wherein the locknut has an external thread for engagement with a decorative flange. 20

10. The tap as claimed in any one of the proceeding claims, wherein the body has an external thread for receiving upper and lower nuts adapted for securing against the opposed sides of a mounting surface.

11. The tap as claimed in any one of the proceeding claims, wherein the spindle has 25 a plastic body and a metal shaft.

12. The tap as claimed in claim 11, wherein the spindle has an acetal body.

13. The tap as claimed in claim 11, wherein the spindle has a brass shaft. 30

14. The tap as claimed in any one of the proceeding claims, wherein the shaft is adapted for connection to the handle.

15. The tap as claimed in any one of the proceeding claims, wherein the spindle 35 body has a plurality of fingers depending therefrom, which are adapted for engagement WO 2007/134360 PCT/AU2007/000261 - 10 with the first valve member so as to cause corresponding movement in the spindle body and the first valve member.

16. The tap as claimed in any one of the proceeding claims, wherein the body inlet is 5 in the form of a spigot.

17. The tap as claimed in claim 16, wherein the body inlet is in the form of an externally threaded spigot. 10

18. The tap as claimed in any one of the proceeding claims, wherein the body outlet is in the form of a spigot.

19. The tap as claimed in claim 18, wherein the body outlet is in the form of an externally threaded spigot. 15

20. The tap as claimed in any one of the proceeding claims, wherein the seal is a formed elastomeric material.

21. The tap as claimed in claim 20, wherein the seal is silicon. 20

22. The tap as claimed in any one of the proceeding claims, wherein the distal end of the side wall of the seal has an internal flange adapted for location within a corresponding recess provided on the spindle body. 25

23. The tap as claimed in any one of the proceeding claims, wherein the first and second valve members have a substantially bow-tie shape.

24. The tap as claimed in any one of the claims 1 to 22, wherein the first valve member has a substantially bow-tie shape and the second valve member has a 30 substantially circular shape with two substantially quadrant shaped openings therein.

25. A tap substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs 1 to 11 or 12 to 23 of the accompanying drawings.